Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1887-10-18
LIKE A NOVEL.
Sad Life History OF q Beautiful Girl
Adopted While a Child by
Rich New Yorker
She Becomes a Belle and Falls In Love With
Her Own Brother-rhe Denoue-
msnt-Her Reason DethrOned.
BROOKLYN Times.

erty avenue, near WyckOf street, in the
town of New Lots, twenty-seven years
ago, lived Louis Hart and his wife, Catha-
rine. They had four remarkably pretty
children. Three were boys, and the
Youngest, Marguerite, was a beautiful
little girl but eighteen months old. She,
Of course, was the pet of the family.
The father of this interesting family
was Woodworking man, and earned but
small wages, barely sufficient to supply
the necesssries of life. In addition to
this he was affected by lung trouble. he
was brusn-mAker by trade.
Next door to the Harris lived middle
aged gentlemen by the name of Edward
Wilder. This Wilder was a rich man.
His East New York residence he
occupied only few months
in summer. His winter quarters
were in New York City not far from Fifth
avenue. He formerly had s butcher
stand In Washington market, where,
after years of patient labor he amassed a
competence. He then retired from bust
ness. Some lucky investments in real
estate made him millionaire.
Mr.. Wilder, although passionately fond
10
He often called upon the Hart family and
had noticed the struggles of the
head of the family to keep the wolf
from the door. and observed with
sorrow that the poor mans strength was
UNEQUAL to the task imposed upon it..
The baby antics of the little Marguerite
had also worked upon his affections, and
a great love for the little one arose in his
heart.
One day Mr.. Hart returned from his
work sick in body and mind. Destitu-
ton stared him in the face. His rich
neighbours sympathy was aroused, and,
calling upon Mr.. Wilder, the latter made
a proposition to him. He stated how he
had become attached to little Msrguer-
tie, how he had noticed their circum-
stances, and wound up by Offering to
adopt the little one.
The poor man could not bring himself
at once to let the child go, and asked for
time to consider the matter. But Mr..
Wilder had set his heart upon gaining
possession Of the little one, and offered TO
settle an annuity upon the boys il his
proposition was accepted. He also Of
fered to divide between the boys vslua-
bic plot of land lying in the northern part
of New York state. He stipulated that
when he should once have possession of
the child it should never agaiK be re-
claimed by It's parents under any circum-
stances, and that Marguerite should never
be made acquainted with the fact
that he was other than her own
father. Quite en- affecting scene ensued.
The parents did not want to let the child
go, but at last came to the conclusion
that it was the best thing under the cir
cumstances and gave the child into Mr..
WIlder's keeping.
Mr.. Wilder Immediately took Mar
guerite to his New York establishment,
and she grew up to be q very beautiful
young woman, admired by all. She was
of the blonde type, with deep blue eyes
and golden hair and skin like alabsster.
Her figure was superb. She WAS the
belle of her set, and many were her suit
ors. But she had not as yet met her af-
finity.
In the summer of 1888 her father took
her to Newport, where she was the &C.
knoWledged belle. It was generally known
that she was an heiress, and that, with
her beauty, brought many suitors to her
feet. Among them was handsome young
Lieutenant of the United States Navy.
He was young man with many virtues
and but few faults. He was frequent
attendant st divine services. They met
at the church. A mutual reciprocation
sprang up between the young people,
and they were often seen upon the
sands of Newport enjoying one an
others society. They were hand
some couple, admired by all but
envied by none. Society began to whis-
per that it was match. Society for once
was right. The friendship of the young
couple in course Of time ripened into
warmer feeling, and one beautiful moon
light night the young man rose to the
occasion, and the inevitable "proposal"
was made. Marguerite had been expect
ing this for some time, but, like dutiful
daughter, asked for time to consider her
answer, and in the meantime referred the
whole matter to her father. Her reasons
for so doing were that she was an heir
ess, and he was comparatively poor. Peo- |
pie would look upon this as mesalli- |
ance. She was not sure but that her sup |
posed father might also.
Mr.. Wilder listened ettentivelyto Msr- |
guerite's story, and at the conclusion |
he smiled, snd ,claspiDg her to his bosom, |
kissed her, st the same time as
surfing her that if he found the young |
mans character and antecedents TO De
satisfactory, his poverty need be tno bar
TO the consummation of their, happiness. |
That same day Mr.. Wilder went out
and did not return until late. He ap-
peared to be depressed and went to bed |
without saying word. The next day at
the breakfast table he proposed to his lit
tie family that they take trip to Europe.
Marguerite had noticed his altered
manner, and when this proposition
was made she understood it, as meaning
that her father would not give his con-
sent to her marriage, and her heart failed
her for the moment. There was some
thing wrong. She asked him for his an
swer. Mr.. Wilder evaded her question
ings as long as ne could, but when she
stated that if she did not get his consent
to their union she would leave her sup
posed parents and 60 to her lover, the
old msn was obliged to divulge the secret
of wears, and informed her that the man
she loved was her own brother, Frederick
Hart.
The poor girl tainted. When she came
to she was delirious. She was removed
to her bed, where she remained for sew
eral weeks, and when she arose it was